Mark Laurent & Brenda Liddiard - CDs & Books
Spiritual Graffiti
This is our current album, released in November 2006. Overall the feel is deep-textured and mellow (Mark plays a lot of atmospheric electric guitar) and there's a rich, satisfying contrast between Mark's and Brenda's songs. The 13 songs draw inspiration from a fair range of sources; the Coromandel coastline and the Thames Estuary (that's the one in England), Mother Teresa and George W Bush, Lambton Quay and State Highway One, our local possums and the Proverbs of Solomon. We've had the great support of some fine musicians: George Barris on acoustic and electric basses, Duncan Davidson on whistles, Celtic flute and button accordion, Susan Colien-Reid on violin (Susan also did a 'beautifully disturbing' bv on Falling), and Janet Holborow on cello, plus cameo bvs from good friends Chris Priestley and Martha Louise on Wherever it Leads Me.
Listen & Buy tracks from a sample of our back catalogue:
Millennium Hippies (1999) The Light & The Shadowland (2001)
(Mark)
Kindness in a Strong City (1986)
(Mark)
Throw Away the Stones
A Collection of Poetry by Mark Laurent
I never did a degree or learned the classics - watching a film adaptation of Romeo And Juliet was about as cultured as my school got – so I have only a patchy literary heritage to draw on.
I got most of my education from movies, rock albums, and the back seats of cars.
But I’ve heard rain drumming on the iron roof, just as Hemi Baxter did; and I’ve felt winter’s bitter chill that stirred Shakespeare’s passionate muse; and like Plato or Socrates I’ve known the warmth of summer sun upon my uncovered head.
So I suppose that, in my way, I’m an inspired soul, too.
(from the back cover)
This is now out of print. Some of the poems will soon be available on Mark’s Poetry page.
Mark Laurent (1982)
Waiting for Donald (2001)
Instrumental improv with Mark & Brenda, Robbie Duncan (guitar) & Chris Price (Percussion)